There’s something about his orchestral electro wonderment that I adore. It’s music that I listen to and can make me think, “this is why I love music”.

So I’m shocked and appalled with myself for managing to miss this gem I just shuffled upon. Gorecki Fix Up My Girlfriend Some More comes from Dan Black’s mix tape Weird Science released last year.

You can tell the renowned Polish composer Henryk Gorecki, who died in November last year, must be a big influence over Dan Black, with his use of minimal strings and choir to create lush landscapes. So in homage to the composer he mixed some of his music up with Busta Rhyme’s Gimmie Some More. Well he sort of mixed it, I’d call it something like, created an amazing track in which he took bits of both and made it his own:

Dan Black – Go Reck I Fix Up My Girlfriend by DigitalShellShock

In other news, as far as I can glean from his Twitter, it looks Dan Black is currently making a new album. I can’t wait already.

You all know I hate classical crossover – so fear not, I’m not going to submit you to such aural torture with this track. Also it’s a a step up from the mash up of Chuck Berry’s song Roll Over Beethoven by the E.L.O. – possibly the last memorable occasion Beethoven’s beloved symphony was massacred by pop music in a remotely listenable way.

Wolfgang Gartner & 3oh3 Feat. Kesha_Kiss Symphony(Red Headz Mash Up) by Red Headz

If you have spotify you can listen to the originals:

Wolfgang Gartner – Wolfgang’s 5th Symphony – Radio Edit (spotify)

3OH!3 – My First Kiss – Feat. Ke$ha (spotify)

So it was with a certain degree of trepidation after I saw ‘classical music’ as an influence that I pressed play to hear the music of The Shadow Orchestra. It is with a great degree of jubilation that they are no Katherine Jenkins.

I was contacted by the Band’s harpist Kat Arney. Yes, you read that right – Harp – and it features heavily on their new Remaker EP. The Shadow Orchestra though was originally the solo work of cellist and producer Chris Bangs – and his 2006 eponymous release received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and 3.

Despite the record’s success Bangs decided to rely less on his laptop and assembled, alongside Arney, drummer Dave Oliver, guitarist Nick Siddall and singer and multi-instrumentalist Mary Erskine.

The expansion of The Shadow Orchestra seems to have worked wonders. Remaker still has plenty of hints towards the experimental electronica of Aphex Twin or even composer Jonathan Harvey. But with the added forces you can appreciate some exquisitely performed instrumental layers which have been crafted together to make ethereal soundscapes, whilst Esrkine’s vocals float elegantly above.

You can buy Remaker for what you like. Before you decide how much you want to pay, have a listen to my favourite track from the EP. Thanks to the band for this song – cause it’s helped take some of the edge off that saw.

The Shadow Orchestra – Time and Distance mp3

Although Bloch is best known for his powerful Jewish works, I love his innate ability to compose in a variety of styles with great skill. His Concerto Grosso No. 2, for example, won the New York Music Critics’ Circle Award (a Concerto Grosso is a baroque form of composition).

Today I received some very sad news, and as usual I turned to music to console me. I listened to Prayer – No 1. from Jewish Life, for cello and string orchestra. I find it to be one of the most moving and lyrical pieces of music ever composed. This performance is from Jan Vogler’s excellent cello album My Tunes.

Ernest Bloch – Prayer, No. 1 from Jewish Life (mp3)

In stark contrast to Prayer, his String Quintet No. 1, showcases Bloch‘s academical prowess in composition. The first movement opens with ghostly quarter tones in the string quartet. In the meantime the piano plays the leitmotif which forms the basis for the whole Quintet.

I have been completely spell bound by this quintet since I bought the critically acclaimed Hyperion recording. Every time I listen to it I make another discovery.

Ernest Bloch – String Quintet No. 1 – 1st Movement – Agitato (mp3)